A state judge on Monday blocked St. John the Baptist Parish from restoring a nullified 1990 zoning ordinance that would allow construction of a controversial $225 million grain export terminal proposed by Greenfield Louisiana LLC on land in the predominantly Black community of Wallace.
Read MoreScorching heat and a lack of rain have made much of Louisiana a tinderbox, causing wildfires across the state, according to authorities.
Sabine Parish has been hit particularly hard over the past few days with about 2,000 acres burned.
Read MoreLayne Langley, area nutrition agent with the LSU AgCenter, visited summer camps in East Feliciana and West Feliciana parishes to present hands-on nutrition programs for the campers.
Be Fit and Healthwise is an annual summer camp hosted by RKM Primary Care. It is for children ages 6-14 of East Feliciana Parish and the surrounding area.
Read MoreFrom open-air tractors, pull-behind harvesters, and narrow tillage equipment, farm machinery has evolved into larger, more powerful, and safer units.
Global Positioning System (GPS) operations, air-conditioned cabs, and on-board computers are now standard equipment.
Still, farm incidents happen.
Read MoreBehind only California and Arkansas, Louisiana produces the third-most rice of any U.S. state, and the starchy grain is a major staple in much of the state's unique cuisine.
As production of rice has increased through the decades in Louisiana and beyond, so has the need for more water to grow and harvest it.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2022, which runs from Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023.
Read MoreEveryone in Louisiana already knows rain has been hard to come by this summer.
But exactly how bad and widespread is the drought? Without enough data points, it can be hard to say — and that can prevent local farmers, ranchers and others from qualifying for assistance programs.
Read MoreWith a slew of hopefuls seeking offices in October’s state elections, two prominent posts were filled by candidates who attracted no opposition.
Typically, that happens to popular incumbents, such as the state’s commissioner of agriculture and forestry, Mike Strain. He will serve a fifth term starting in January.
Read MoreRecord-breaking high temps and little to no measurable rainfall are two factors farmers do not want to gamble with when it comes to mother nature. Unfortunately, it is a harsh reality for many across Louisiana, hitting multi-generational farming families hard, such as Charles and Ryan Yerby of Colfax.
Read MoreThe state’s cattle sector is expected to lose anywhere from $135 million to $290 million as a result of the record-breaking heat wave and drought, the LSU AgCenter reports.
While the entire agricultural industry is set for losses, cattle is expected to take the biggest hit, with the drought reducing hay production and forcing downsizing of herds.
Read MoreAugust is normally (whatever normally means) the start of the Fall cattle runs; however, calves and yearlings have been moving to the sale barns early due to higher prices and lower forage output. Dry weather coupled with record high temperatures have decreased pasture growth.
Read MoreJacqueline Dixon, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor-Dean for the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center/College of Agricultural, College of Consumer Sciences, received the Southern University System’s Above and Beyond Award during the Southern University System Board of Supervisors meeting on August 18, 2023.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the opening of 17 new Urban Service Centers in the next year including one in New Orleans. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are hosting the grand opening of the new Urban Service Center in New Orleans at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, August 23. The grand opening will take place at the Urban Service Center located at 2520 Bayou Road New Orleans, LA 70119.
Read MoreAccording to Mark Carriere, a county agent with the LSU Ag Center, the hot temperatures and lack of precipitation have slowed production for some essential staples in the area.
Read MoreExtreme heat and periods of drought this summer will likely lead to losses in several of Louisiana’s agricultural sectors.
Economists from the LSU AgCenter expect the worst losses in the beef cattle sector as reduced hay production, the forced downsizing of cattle herds and other factors could lead to estimated losses of $135 million to $290 million.
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